Comments on: Noisy Co-Op Neighbor in Park Slope: How to Deal? http://www.dailyslope.com/2007/01/02/noisy-co-op-neighbor-in-park-slope-how-to-deal/ Community website for the Park Slope neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:23:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: melanie http://www.dailyslope.com/2007/01/02/noisy-co-op-neighbor-in-park-slope-how-to-deal/#comment-14588 melanie Sat, 23 Jun 2007 22:44:32 +0000 http://www.dailyslope.com/2007/01/02/noisy-co-op-neighbor-in-park-slope-how-to-deal/#comment-14588 they use techno music for mind control--the music is sick--and the bothersome noise is out of line period. why do you have to be politically correct when this situation is NOT. they use techno music for mind control–the music is sick–and the bothersome noise is out of line period. why do you have to be politically correct when this situation is NOT.

]]> By: jk http://www.dailyslope.com/2007/01/02/noisy-co-op-neighbor-in-park-slope-how-to-deal/#comment-898 jk Wed, 10 Jan 2007 03:58:52 +0000 http://www.dailyslope.com/2007/01/02/noisy-co-op-neighbor-in-park-slope-how-to-deal/#comment-898 I work in building materials and actually teach an architectural course on acoustical design. You may be surprised to know that insulation actually does not have that great an effect between floors. If you can hear your upstairs neighbor talking under normal conditions, then you have an unusually poor floor acoustically, at least for this neighborhood where buildings tend to be older (and constructed from heavier materials than new construction). But if the main problem is when he plays loud music, that's probably a noise level that requires more serious acoustical work. If your ears are ringing, that suggests to me a decibel level in your apartment of around 80db minimum (an acoustical engineer could comment more authoritatively on this) and if your floor/ceiling blocks about 40 decibels or more as we'd expect, that suggests at least 120db in your neighbor's place - that's *really* loud. So it makes me wonder if there's something conducting the noise straight to you, as through heating pipes maybe. If the noise is being carried to you by pipes or ducts that run from his apartment into yours, it's going to be tough to solve the problem. You could look into coating any pipes or ducts with insulation which might help stop the vibration. Otherwise, if it's just passing through the floor as usual, you might try looking into damped drywall panels. There are a few manufacturers you can find online. They're about the most effective thing you can do, and even though they can be expensive, you don't have to tear down your existing ceiling in order to apply them. If other residents of your co-op also have trouble with inter-apartment noise, it might be something your building would want to invest in. I work in building materials and actually teach an architectural course on acoustical design. You may be surprised to know that insulation actually does not have that great an effect between floors.

If you can hear your upstairs neighbor talking under normal conditions, then you have an unusually poor floor acoustically, at least for this neighborhood where buildings tend to be older (and constructed from heavier materials than new construction).

But if the main problem is when he plays loud music, that’s probably a noise level that requires more serious acoustical work. If your ears are ringing, that suggests to me a decibel level in your apartment of around 80db minimum (an acoustical engineer could comment more authoritatively on this) and if your floor/ceiling blocks about 40 decibels or more as we’d expect, that suggests at least 120db in your neighbor’s place - that’s *really* loud. So it makes me wonder if there’s something conducting the noise straight to you, as through heating pipes maybe.

If the noise is being carried to you by pipes or ducts that run from his apartment into yours, it’s going to be tough to solve the problem. You could look into coating any pipes or ducts with insulation which might help stop the vibration.

Otherwise, if it’s just passing through the floor as usual, you might try looking into damped drywall panels. There are a few manufacturers you can find online. They’re about the most effective thing you can do, and even though they can be expensive, you don’t have to tear down your existing ceiling in order to apply them. If other residents of your co-op also have trouble with inter-apartment noise, it might be something your building would want to invest in.

]]> By: happy new year http://www.dailyslope.com/2007/01/02/noisy-co-op-neighbor-in-park-slope-how-to-deal/#comment-841 happy new year Wed, 03 Jan 2007 15:42:30 +0000 http://www.dailyslope.com/2007/01/02/noisy-co-op-neighbor-in-park-slope-how-to-deal/#comment-841 I wouldn't include this New Year's party in your discussions with him about noise-- it's normal to have a loud party on New Year's, and complaining about that won't get you anywhere (other than to make you seem unreasonable). You should be able to work something out with your neighbor that will allow you both to enjoy your homes-- try to keep it civil and work it out with him before making official complaints to the co-op board or 311. Many NY apartments lack sufficient insulation between floors, and in some ways noise is a price you pay to live in the city vs living in a place where there is more space between people. Good luck & happy new year. I wouldn’t include this New Year’s party in your discussions with him about noise– it’s normal to have a loud party on New Year’s, and complaining about that won’t get you anywhere (other than to make you seem unreasonable). You should be able to work something out with your neighbor that will allow you both to enjoy your homes– try to keep it civil and work it out with him before making official complaints to the co-op board or 311. Many NY apartments lack sufficient insulation between floors, and in some ways noise is a price you pay to live in the city vs living in a place where there is more space between people. Good luck & happy new year.

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